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Looking Back

Jefferson County considers the prospect of getting an aviation field in 1918.

100 YEARS AGO

May 2, 1918

Quite a crowd of Jefferson County people met at Metolius Tuesday evening to consider the prospects of getting an aviation field located in the county, the commercial clubs having been advised there was a fair prospect of such a field being located in Central Oregon.

The matter was gone into detail by the meeting, which was presided over by N.A. Burdick who, being called away during the evening, was succeeded by Walter M. Eaton. It was agreed that if it could be secured at all, it would be located by the government officials without regard to the wishes of any locality, and all hands united in an effort to interest the government in, and try to get it located in the county.

It was decided by motion to permit the commercial clubs of each of the four towns, Gateway, Madras, Metolius and Culver, to select one member, the whole to constitute a committee to meet the federal aviation board in Portland when they arrive from California in the near future, and see that they were properly informed of our opportunities, and to show them over the various sites upon their arrival here.

Another committee consisting of Jas. Hurt, Gateway, J.W. Daughtery, of Culver, W.M. Eaton, Madras, and H.W. Seethoff, Metolius, were appointed chairmen of committees for their respective towns, and authorized to choose their assistants, the purpose of these committees being to view various sites, procure some sort of tentative figures for lease or sale of same, so as to be able to advise the board on these points upon their arrival.

Although but little is known of the government requirements for an aviation field, it is believed this county offers some splendid inducements in its vast, level plains, excellent climate, constant clear skies and absence of fog and rains, and our people are all agreed to go after it to get it, and let it fall where it may in the county.

75 YEARS AGO

April 29, 1943

"We haven't started on Japan yet" – that in no uncertain terms was the declaration of Major Gen. Davenport Johnson, commanding general of the Second Air Force, at Fort George Wright last week.

Speaking at the first press conference since he arrived at Fort Wright on Feb. 24, to assume command of the Second Air Force, Gen. Johnson assured representatives of newspapers and radio stations that "the young men who fly America's four-motored bombers may not get around to bombing Tokyo for some time yet, but they will get around to it — "and that is both a threat and a promise."

Optimistic, but foresighted and straight-thinking, the general said he expected "a long war," and that Germany — "still very strong, although "crippled" — would have to be brought to her knees before the United Nations could turn their full attention to the East.

Gen. Johnson was particularly enthusiastic as he spoke of the work by the Second Air Force, in the European and North African battle theatres.

"Considering the fact that it is not a fighter plane and that the main objective of the heavy bomber is to lug a cargo of destruction to an enemy target," said the general, "the significance of the box score — four Axis planes destroyed for every American plane — is inescapable."

Practical reasons for the success of the American bomber crews are numerous. Immediately upon completion of their specialized courses, whether as pilots, navigators, bombardiers, gunners or mechanics, the young airmen are formed into nine- and 10-man combat units which are kept together from the start of the training period until their migration to a combat zone.

The training, of a necessity, is rigorous, and the far-flung bases of the Second Air Force, which embraces virtually the entire western half of the United States, afford the neophyte crews an opportunity to practice under any and all conditions — desert, mountains, cold, heat, and over-water flying — which they may encounter on any fighting front.

"This training, while admittedly hazardous," said Gen. Johnson, "guarantees the men against severe and costly and operational losses when they go into action in a battle zone."

"These kids," asserted the general, "are the finest men America has — the finest in the world."

50 YEARS AGO

May 2, 1968

In the past, the Fourth of July celebration at Warm Springs has been a one-day spectacle. This year, the festivities will extend over 10 days, form June 28 through July 7. The expanded project will be called the Warm Springs Fun Daze and will include Indian dancing, an All-Indian girls softball tournament, several modern dances, several dinners, the selection of Miss Indian Warm Springs, and a special Indian pageant presentation telling the story of the Warm Springs Indian Reservation.

Sarah Johnson, Miss Indian America, is tentatively scheduled to be the special guest for the final seven days of the pageant.

Kicking off the festivities will be the selection of Miss Indian Warm Springs and the first presentation of the special Indian pageant on June 28. This event will be followed by the Coronation Ball, June 29, and an Indian-style picnic at He He Mill on June 30.

Miss Indian America is scheduled to arrive in Warm Springs July 1, and will travel to Portland with Miss Warm Springs July 2, for promotional activities in Portland.

On the big day of the Fun Daze, the Fourth of July, Rep. Sam Johnson will be the grand marshal of the parade. The Fun Daze event will close Sunday, July 7, with the Farewell Salmon Bake scheduled for Indian Park on Lake Simtustus.

25 YEARS AGO

April 29, 1993

Eventually, the troublesome junction of U.S. Highways 97 and 26 in Madras may have to be moved in order to solve problems, Steve Wilson of the Oregon Department of Transportation office in Bend told a Madras audience last Wednesday.

Wilson's office has been doing traffic studies on the intersection located across from Ahern's Market and next to McDonald's Restaurant.

"The location would qualify for a traffic signal, but I'm reluctant to recommend that. I don't think people coming down the hill would stop for a light, and there would be problems when the hill was icy," Wilson said.

Rather than a traffic light, Wilson favored the idea of moving U.S. Highway 97 behind McDonald's to the area now occupied by a green highway department building and a huge pile of road cinders used for sanding roads. That facility will be moving to Cherry Lane, he noted, adding that the lot would be free.

Ideally, an interchange (overpass) would solve the problem, but that would be too expensive, Wilson mentioned.

If the moving of U.S. Highway 97 is recommended, it will take four to six years for studies to be done and the ODOT Commission to hold public hearings, before construction can begin, he indicated.